West Yorkshire-based Formula Renault UK Championship outfit Team JLR has confirmed Cadbury-backed Turkish driver Jason Tahinci (Frampton Cotterell, Bristol) will compete alongside South African sensation Stephen Simpson during the Formula Renault 2004 season.

The Batley team, a major player in the UK Formula Ford Championship for many years and the current champion entrant, returned to Formula Renault UK in last November’s Winter Championship and JLR is now ready to secure some high profile results in the country’s premier junior slicks and wings category.

Both drivers were born in the UK, although 20-year old Tahinci has lived in Turkey the majority of his life while 19-year old Simpson has been a Cape Town resident since the tender age of one.

In 2003 Tahinci competed in Formula Renault UK with Mark Burdett Motorsport, having contested the previous year’s Winter Championship with the Skegness-based team. Simpson raced in UK Formula Ford in 2001 before switching to race European Formula Renault the following season.

Team JLR boss Richard Dean commented: “Stephen has been on our shopping list for some time. He showed how quick he is during four days of testing in our Formula Renault UK car and although only 19 years-old he is very focused and very determined.

“The whole team is delighted to have signed a deal with Jason too. It will be a big year for us all and there is some pressure to perform. However, Jason seems to have a cool, intelligent approach to the job and he certainly has experience in the formula which will prove invaluable.”

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